Hot Topics:

Puig, Dodgers up next for Rockies

By Patrick SaundersThe Denver Post

Posted:
07/01/2013 10:51:19 PM MDT

DENVER -- This year's phenom arrives at Coors Field today.

Yasiel Puig, the Dodgers' 22-year-old rookie outfielder from Cuba, has been -- pick your adjective -- sensational, scintillating, superb. Since making his major league debut on June 3, he has put up Joe DiMaggio numbers. Puig and DiMaggio are the only players in major league history with at least 40 hits and four home runs in their first calendar month in the majors. Puig's 44 hits in June were second only to DiMaggio's 48 in 1936 with the Yankees.

Since being called up, Puig leads the majors with 44 hits during that span, and he also leads the National League with a .436 batting average and a .467 on-base percentage. In 26 games, he's hit seven home runs, drove in 12 runs, stolen four bases and scored 19 runs.

Puig almost hit for the cycle Sunday in the Dodgers' 6-1 victory over the Phillies, coming up a home run short.

When told he was on the short list with the great DiMaggio, Puig told reporters: "It's nice to be on that list," before conceding he didn't know anything about DiMaggio.

DJ spins hits

DJ LeMahieu just might be the quietest player in the Rockies' clubhouse. So it's apropos that he's quietly establishing himself as a solid second baseman.

LeMahieu, who began the season playing shortstop at Triple-A Colorado Springs, is batting .313 (20-for-64) with four doubles, a homer and five RBIs since June 11.

"DJ has played well," manager Walt Weiss said. "His swing is in a good place.

Advertisement

He swung the bat very well down at Colorado Springs and it looks like he's found that stroke, especially recently. He's strung a lot of good at-bats together."

LeMahieu has made just two errors in 171 chances at second base, good for a .988 fielding percentage.

Fowler forecast

Center fielder Dexter Fowler didn't play Sunday, missing his fifth consecutive game because of a strained right wrist. But Weiss was optimistic that Monday's off day would help Fowler be ready to go today.

"He's definitely better," Weiss said Sunday morning. "Hopefully with the off day, he'll be ready to go. We'll re-evaluate him then."

Fowler hasn't played since going 0-for-4 last Tuesday at Boston. If Fowler is not healed enough to play, he'll go on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to last Wednesday.

New coordinator pushes Buffs to work, play at level he expectsJim Leavitt has discovered this much about his new defense at Colorado: He has some talent with which to work, but his players need to put it in another gear. Full Story